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This is SKYRACK No. 23, dated 6th September, 1960 and published by Ron Bennett, 7 Southway, Arthurs Avenue, Harrogate, Yorkshire, England. 6d per copy, 2/6d for 6 issues. Subscriptions in USA @ 35cents for six isues (6 issues airmailed for 65cents) to Bob Pavlat, 6001- 43rd Avenue, Hyattsville, Md. Cartoon. on left by Eddie Jones. News of interest to sf fans always welcomed. Try me.

STARSHIP TROOPERS TAKES HUGO. SEATTLE FANZINE HONOURED: Robert Heinlein’s novel Starship Troopers, of which a shortened version originally appeared in F&SF, was awarded the Hugo for the year’s best novel at the Pittsburgh World S.F. Convention held last weekend, 3rd 5th September. The news will surprise many fans. as the book deals in part with the controversial subject of nuclear disarmament, apparently glorifying war to the extent where:young minds might be influenced. The book has not yet been published in full in Great Britain. The Hugo for the best short fiction went to Daniel Keyes for Flowers For Algernon, whilst Rod Serling’s The Twilight Zone was voted Best Dramatic Work.

For the third year in succession The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction won the Hugo for the best professional magazine. Ed Emshwiller broke a long run of successes for Kelly Freas by winning the Hugo for the best professional artist. In the fanzine field the award for the best amateur magazine went to the monthly CRY OF THE NAMELESS, edited by The Nameless Ones of Seattle. Congratulations, Buz, Tosk, Blotto Otto and Wee Wally. (My thanks to Spy “P.”)

LATEST ON THE PITTCON, cabled. by Our Man On The Spot Bob Pavlat is that Seattle won without opposition the right to. put on next year’s Worldcon. UK agent will probably be John Berry. Guest of Honour and 1959 Hugo winner James Blish afforded standing ovation. Robert Heinlein was present. to receive his Hugo for Starship Troopers. TAFF delegate Eric Bentcliffe made wonderful speech and is being extremely well received. 380 attendees present.

Jhim Linwood notes that Bloch’s PSYCHO made into a Hitchcock film got rave notice in SUNDAY TIMES. Having seen this; I agree it’s underrated by most critics, though is not vintage Hitchcock.

WELCOME TO ENGLAND, BRUCE BURN, said the Science Fiction Club of London. On 27th August the SFCL held a party in honour of the arrival in this country of New Zealand’s leading fan, Bruce “I’ll turn up on time” Burn. Terrain was the Parker Penitentiary. Attendees, were Ella, Ethel Lindsay; Ken & Irene Potter, Tom Porter, Chris Miller, Jhim Linwood, Archie Mercer, Ron Bennett, Ken Cheslin, Ted Forsyth, Jim Groves, Arthur Thomson and Don Geldart. Notable absentee was Bruce.Burn. Plans had been in full swing to meet Bruce’s ship, the 1,500 passenger, 12,150 ton ‘Castel Felice’ at Southampton early on the morning of Saturday, 27th August, collect Bruce, pull several ploys on him (like having him bump into a complete stranger at Waterloo Station, said stranger driving Bruce out to East Sheen where he is now staying and then appearing at the party to reveal himself as Atom) and take him along to the surprise party at Ella’s. On phoning the Sitmar line on the Friday, I was told that the boat was delayed 24 hours! Hurried telegrams to and from. Jill Adams in Southampton and dashes round London to inform the gang. The party was still held. At 2.40 am Mercer, Forsyth, .Linwood, Bennett and Geldart endured a wild taxi ride to Waterloo to catch the 3.10 train to Southampton. We arrived at the dock where three days previously Joy and Sandy Sanderson had sailed to the USA and were greeted a) by police who wouldn’t allow us on the dock until 7am and b) a cloud burst. We retired to a cafe to drink muddy, slate coffee and at seven braved the rain to go on to the dock. Placards drawn. up by SFCL signwriter George Locke (”Ban the Burn”, and “Go Home Bruce Burn”) were displayed at the ship’s assembled passengers until we located Bruce. After a further three hours waiting, Bennett and Forsyth chickened out and taxied up to the home of Jill and John Adams where slide photography was discussed (Bennett’s new 35mm camera had recently produced a roll of colour slides in which everything had turned out slate blue). At 12.30 there was still no sign of Bruce, so Jill, Bennett and Forsyth shot back to the docks, only to find the place deserted. Back to Jill’s and finally a meeting with the Burn himself. We took him up to London, out to East Sheen and then up to Ella’s. Jill’s two pounds of slate blue sausages never did get eaten, and neither did the six pounds that Ella was toting. During the ensuing week Bruce was taken round London by Don Geldart, met Andy Young and the Bulmers at Ella’s and at the Tate Gallery was shown how Picasso was once a disciple of Bennett’s slate blue period. (XYZ)

ANDY YOUNG, one time London Fan, flew back to the States on 31st August. Following his astronomical conference in Holland, Andy had visited Niels Augustin, Jean and Annie Linard, Norman and Ina Shorrock and Walt and Madeleine Willis. A party was held at Ella’s on 30th August. Embryofan (self styled) fan Mike Evans reports: “Characters in order of appearance:Biblical style prophet lurking in some undergrowth. By name Andy Young; Pale brown all black, called by his mother Bruce Burn; Bulmers, one of each; Assorted Atom BEMs; Embryofan. Curtain rises on Embryofan staggering up 17 flights of stairs. He starts back in horror as rough, tough door bears plate “Abandon Hope All Ye Who Enter Here.” Embyofan enters (change to camera 2). Stretched out in corner is full fathom one of Andy Young, hiding behind a beard and having a strong silent contest with Ron Bennett. Bennett is losing beards down. Topiary fans hope for rain. Not far from the snap crackle and pop of rapidly growing whiskers a lad with a friendly crewcut and the jawline of an obstreperous coal heaver is trying to got used to walking about on his feet. Several assorted bems chase Ella to take photos of her. Other bems accept Manhattan screwdrivers a la Bennett. Lights flash, glasses clink. E-fan grovels a Bulmers enter, feels that two beards a bit much to spring on a lad all of a sudden, and escapes during a lull. ((Oh, Mike, last year Ken Bulmer had a beard, too! RB))

KIRKCUDBRIGHT is pronounced Kirkoobrie and the town has recently been put on the fannish map with the installation there of the Buckmaster fanzine factory. First from Daphne Buckmaster (8 Buchanan Street, Kirkcudbright, Scotland) comes HOBO no 1, a fanzine which will travel yearly through the hands of four different editors. Top fanzines these days seem to be group efforts, and this spreading of the chores attached to fanpubbing should help to maintain regularity. Ken Bulmer, who is the next editor, reviews fanzines, Jim Linwood writes on concrete music, Jimmy Groves discusses antigravity and Daphne throws out several hundred controversial statements. Atom drew the cover. Daphne also throws out more controversial statements in ESPRIT (Vol 2, No 1), the second of the Kirkcudbright recent offerings. The title is well known, having graced Daphne’s OMPAzine for some years, but now ESPRIT has become a genzine and is available for 1/3, contribution or comment. Around in this issue are articles on selling and status seeking by Ron and. Daphne, an item on infinite horizons by Sid Birchby and a problem posed by Ron that I’ve been trying to work out for over.a year! Two very neat and readable fnz.

BASTION 1 (Eric Bentcliffe, 47 Alldis St., Great Moor, Stockport, Cheshire; 1/6 or 4 for 5/-; 42pp) Here is the first issue of the successor to both TRIODE and SPACE DIVERSIONS, with Eric as editor and Norman Shorrock as publisher. Impeccable duplicating and layout are again the order of the day. John Owen is happily present with his Drums Along The Mersey reporting. Sid Birchby writes on coins and singing songs that are worth singing. Mike Moorcock gets to the core of SF. Jim Linwood writes a fan story. Dr. Arthur Weir writes on Haggard and psi. A lengthy letter column and oodles of artwork make up an excellent issue which blends perfectly the best qualities of the two zines.it has superceded.

SFCoL STORMS SOUTH COAST SOCIETY. Ken Cheslin reports that on Sunday 20th August the following members and hangers-on of the Science Fiction Club of London travelled down to Middleton-on-Sea, Sussex: Ella Parker, Ken & Irene Potter, Ted Forsyth, Jimmy Groves, George Locke, Ethel Lindsay, Don Geldart, Ron Bennett, Ken Cheslin and Bedford 12-seater driver Arthur Thomson with his fan club Olive and Heather. Passing motorists were subjected to a back window sign reading “Annual Outing of the Escaped Prisoners Society”which later gave way to another sign which bore the slogan “National Society for the Abolition of Life: Annual Outing.” Middleton is a nice little village, a dwelling place for the idle rich. Fortunately the beach is devoid of “amusements.” The tide was in when we arrived and we picnicked before wandering round the high tide mark and the bordering greensward. Jimmy Groves had brought his hammer to collect rock specimens from the locale. Bennett had forgotten the cards – he’d had to get up early - so we didn’t play brag. We did play cricket with Groves manufactured equipment. Stars were batsman Groves, Bowler Forsyth and Fieldsman Locke whose catching (he dismissed Bennett’s entire side) was worth an England test place. Both the trip out and the return journey were significant for their general merriment, songs and pun-gent conversation. Heartfelt plaudits for Arthur whose idea the trip was and who worked so hard on the project, both with arrangements and with the actual driving.

Recent visitors to London have been Jim Linwood, Archie Mercer, Chris Miller and Joe Patrizio, now in the metropolis job hunting.

Many London fen have been greatly taken with the deadpan antics of Wally (Mr Peepers) Cox in a recent nightly highly formulated TV series. *** Ken Cheslin, Ella Parker and Ron Bennett taught Andy Young brag. Young won. *** Whilst in London Ron Bennett visited the homes of Laurence Sandfield, Ethel Lindsay and George Locke, all for the first time ,and thanks everyone concerned for the hospitality. *** Dick Eney is producing a leaflet of Additions and Corrections to his Fancy II. Will cost 20 cents or 1/6d (UK cash to Archie Mercer). Copies of Fancy II with the A&C leaflet bound in will cost 10/-. The latest SPECULATIVE REVIEW is being mailed out - coloured title letters with black-line illustration overprint. *** Latest known on the TAFF lineup is that standing against Dick Eney are Dick Ellington and Ron Ellik. FANAC and fanzines please copy: Ron Bennett URGENTLY requires photos, slides etc which deal with his ‘58 TAFF trip to the States. Will pay cash. *** Cheltenham fans recently made up party to see Merchant of Venice at Stratford.*** Chris Miller in London reading British Museum fanzines. *** Surprise visitor at Globe last Thursday was old time Canadian fan Bob Gibson, over here looking up friends and relatives. Off chance of him visiting you, .Ken Slater and hey there you, too, Michael Rosenblum. *** Ian McAulay is in Belfast for a month. Provisional plans are a move to London for a month from mid-October. *** Eric Bentcliffe arrived Montreal last Monday. Party in his honour New York Wednesday. To visit Cincinnati Indianapolis, Minneapolis & South Bend after con. *** We too get letters: “Dear Blackbeard, There’s a dirty big X appearing on my copy of SKYRACK 22. Of course, you may have thought you were filling in your pools coupon. Here’s half-a-dollar. Get yourself a shave. Chin-chin (and do something about it), Bill Temple.” *** BBC TV coverage on SF films, Tuesday 16th August excellent.*** Potters and Mayne not taking 236 Queens Road, contrary to note last issue. Deal fell through.